From Horror Books to Big Foot Days: When Readers Find You at the Most Unexpected Places

Today was the market portion of Big Foot Days festival in Remer, Minnesota – a celebration of all things cryptid in the heart of lake country. I set up a booth alongside vendors selling everything from Big Foot t-shirts to tie-dyed apparel, my horror collection Old Hungers nestled between straw hats and novelty mugs (full disclosure: I was also selling Big Foot apparel, tumblers, key chains, and straw hats). It felt wonderfully surreal.

What I didn't expect was the readers.

Throughout the day, people kept approaching my table with that look of recognition. "Are you Erik Bilicki? I saw your book on Goodreads!" "My friend shared your giveaway on Facebook!" "I've been wanting to read Old Hungers!"

There's something magical about that moment when digital buzz becomes real-world connection. These weren't just casual browsers – they were actively seeking me out, having discovered my work through social media and Goodreads reviews. The online community that's grown around Old Hungers was suddenly standing in front of me, eager to talk horror and storytelling.

Between selling books, I watched my son help customers while my dog Charlotte claimed the best spot under the table (as seen in the photos – she's clearly mastered the art of festival napping). The whole scene felt like something out of one of my stories: the intersection of ordinary life and the slightly strange, where horror authors peddle their wares next to Big Foot enthusiasts.

The best part? The conversations. Horror fans are passionate readers, and there's nothing quite like discussing your favorite scary stories while surrounded by the rolling hills and pine forests that could easily host their own dark tales. Several people mentioned specific stories from Old Hungers, sharing which ones kept them up at night or made them look twice at shadows.

By the end of the day, I'd sold more books than expected and gained something even more valuable – the reminder that readers are out there, discovering new voices, sharing recommendations, and building communities around the stories that move them.

For any authors reading this: don't underestimate the power of showing up in unexpected places. Sometimes the best book promotion happens not at traditional literary events, but at festivals where people come to celebrate mystery, wonder, and yes, even Big Foot. (I heard some GREAT encounter stories today!)

The photos capture the beautiful chaos of it all – from my lowkey booth setup to Charlotte's professional-level festival lounging. It was a perfect reminder that horror stories find their audience in the most wonderfully unexpected ways.

To everyone who stopped by, bought a book, or just chatted about the power of a good scary story – thank you for making Big Foot Days a day to remember.

Have you ever discovered a new author in an unexpected place? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments.

Erik Bilicki is the author of Old Hungers, a collection of folk horror stories set in the American Midwest. His next collection is currently in progress.